Diving apparatus



J. C. ECKERT, JR. DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLIQATION FILED APR.28, 1921.

1,423,923. Patented July 25,1922.

EQQ

I JAMES cnmmnmn ECKERT, an, or s'rmroan, oonn'nc'ncur,

DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1922.

application filed April 28, 1921. Serial No. 465,806.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JAMES CLENDENIN EOKERT, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in water level and remain there for a time,

without resort to such expensive and cumbersome apparatus and appliances as constitute a divers outfit. For example, every yachtsman feels the necessity for this when sea weed becomes entangled in his propeller, when anchor chains foul, or his craft springs a leak, and innumerable other'occasions arise when labor and expense can be saved or pleasure derived from the ability to go and stay under water for a few minutes or longer without elaborate preparation or the use of expensive appliances,

I have sought to meet this demand, and have succeeded in so doing by devising an extremely simple yet very. effective apparatus for meeting the emergency, which can be purchased at a nominal cost, can be packed and carried in small compass and which is capable of indefinite use either constant or occasional, and this device forms the subject of my present application for Letters Patent.

In somewhat general terms the new. diving outfit, or what I term a water-lung comprises a hollow vessel open at the top to the atmosphere and adapted to float on the surface of the water. From this vessel runs a flexible tube of any reasonable length, say five or six feet, to a valve casing, which is a small chamber or receptacle with an inlet nipple to which said tube is connectedand having within it two perforated partitions, the a ertures in which are covered by thin flexib e rubber sheets or similar diaphragms. At a point between these partitions is an outlet nipple to which a short length of flexible tubing is connected, having at its end a suitable mouthpiece.

A person who desires to use this apparatus takes the mouth-piece in his mouth and descends into the water. He breathes through the tubing and the valve by inhaling the air from and through the floating vessel and the upper perforated partition in the valve illustrated my most convenient and practicable form in casing, the diaphragm over which is on the under side, and exhaling through the short length of tubing through the lower perforated partition, the diaphragm on which is over its under side, and through perforations in the end or under side of the valve or the casing.

If a. person plugs his ears uses aclamp on 'hls nose and wears goggl es it has been demonstrated practically that he can remain under water at a depth of several feet for many minutes without the least inconvenience or discomfort, by the use of this apparatus. K

,In the accompanying drawings I have improved apparatus in the which I have heretofore constructed and used it.

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the complete apparatus showing the manner of using it.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of what I term the valve, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the per forated partitions therein and its attached diaphragm.

I use any suitable form of hollow vessel which will float on the surface of the water, preferably a double conical tin vessel 1, with a tube 2 extending safely above the Water level, the orifice of which may and should be properly protected against the entrance of .walteit due to splashing, waves or other causes. From the bottom of this vessel leads a flexible tube 3 of a few feet in length to a small hollow receptacle 4 which constitutes the valve casing.

This valve casing is made of sheet metal, preferably in two separable sections, and has an inlet nipple 5 at its top and an outlet nipple 6 in its side. Immediately under the inlet'5 to which the tube 4 connects is a tight partition 7 with perforations therein over which, on the -under side, is stretched a thin sheet of rubber 8. The lower partition 9 is similarly perforated and has a similar sheet of soft rubber 10 stretched over its under side, and the end of the valve casing contains perforations 11.

To the side outlet nipple 6 is attached a short length, say two feet, of. rubber tubing 12, to which a mouthpiece is attached that may be held in the mouth-of the user and gripped b his teeth.

When t e user, under water, inhales, the

airis drawn down through and from the floating vessel into the valve casing, through the upper perforated partition, raising the rubber sheet thereon and out through the tube 12. When he exhales, the air passes into the central compartment of the valve casing and out through the lower perforated partition raising the diaphragm and escapin through the perforations 11.

IExperience has demonstrated that the hydrostatic pressure at moderate depths of a few feet does not interfere at all with easy breathing in the use of this apparatus. The user always receives a plentiful supply of sufliciently pure air as the breathed air travels back over only a limited portion of the apparatus. The whole apparatus occupies but little space and may be most conveniently carried in any kind of a sporting kit and is always ready for immediate use when occasion demands.

Having now described my invention what I claim is: 1. In a diving apparatus of the kind herein described, a valve adapted for use and connection with the flexible tubing between the floating air vessel and the diver, comprising a receptacle with two partitions having valves therein opening away. from the inlet at the top which is adapted for conconnection with the floating air vessel, the bottom of said receptacle containing perforations and a side outlet between said two partitions.

2. In a diving apparatusof the kind herein described, a metallic valve casing adapted for connection with the flexible tube between the floating air vessel and the diver, said casing comprising, in combination, two valves, an inlet and an outlet valve, and a casing around the outlet valve containing perforations. 1

' 3. In a diving apparatus of the kind herein described, a valve casing adapted for connection with the flexible tube between the floating air vessel and the diver, comprising, in combination, a receptacle provided with two perforated partitions, rubber sheets coveringthe under sides of the same to form valves, a nipple above one of said partitions, a second nipple in the side of the casing between the two partitions, and the end of the casing under the second partition containing perforations.

In testimony whereof I hereto aifix my signature.

JAMES GLENDENIN ECKERT, J R. 

